Do furs freezerburn?

JimT

JimT

New member
If I've had a pelt in the freezer since last season (Dec.), will it be damaged? I planned to tan him but just haven't gotten to it yet.

Thanks,
J
 
A lot of it depends on what type of skin it is, how it was wrapped, and how long it was in for.

Fatty hides can be a real problem when freezer burnt.
Any freezer damage is usually best detected during rehydration.
 
A lot of it depends on what type of skin it is, how it was wrapped, and how long it was in for.
Click to expand...
River Runner, could you clarify what types of skins are more likely to freezer burn and how well you should wrap them before freezing? I'm curious because I've got probably 20+ furs in the freezer from last season from about January on. I have them rolled up individually and in plastic bread bags with all the air squeezed out and then tied in a knot. Should I double bag them next time I keep any over, or will they be fine?

Edited by Snareman
I forgot to mention, the furs are coyote, red and gray fox, and coon.
 
guys if you can put your fur in a vacum pack, like the ones sold on the infomercials on cable tv. They work wonders in reducing freezerburn. Also if you have some freezerburn damage soaking in cold water for a few hours before fleshing will help rehydrate them and make it much less noticeable. Snareman all can freezerburn, but coons and such are the worst.
 
It's a fleshed out coyote pelt. Actually, I have an unfleshed coyote pelt also. Both are rolled and placed in at least three trash bags.
If it's freezerburned, and I tan it, what happens? Slippage?
Thanks,
Jim

Originally posted by River Runner:
[qb]A lot of it depends on what type of skin it is, how it was wrapped, and how long it was in for.

Fatty hides can be a real problem when freezer burnt.
Any freezer damage is usually best detected during rehydration.[/qb]
Click to expand...
 
some will disagree with me on this one but here gos. to get just a little off subject here i would like to say i hate it when i here i have some frozen hides that are rolled up. DO NOT ROLL YOUR HIDES.lets look at this from the freezing to the thawing. if you take a coyote lay it out and start to roll it from the face to the tail you will have about 6or 7 full rolls of skin and hair. this hair is what keeps the critter alive as it insulates. how long do you think it takes for the inner roll to freeze in the freezer with six layer of insulation around it. now we need to thaw it to work on it so we lay it out and the outer layer thaws in a few hours but the inner layer may take over a day or more. so heres your hide thawed on the out side and frozen on the inside. as the outside waits for the inside to thaw bacteria (the stuff that makes the hair fall out) could be working on the thawed portion of your hide. I take my hides and turn them inside out with the hair on the inside and fold them 3 or four times max. now i know a lot of people are thinking im crazy becuase if you put skin to skin it helps to keep the freezer burn at bay. but if you wrap them good you wont have any freezer burn any how. freezer burn is dehydration and if you get the air out of your bags and dont tear holes in the bags you will be o.k. and the best way to battle freezer burn is not to leave it in the freezer for so long. with the way i discribed your fur will freeze faster and thaw faster. as it thaws you can unfold it to thaw faster. this is just my two cents worth and remember there is more than one way to skin a cat but only one way to skin a frog.
Sportingly
Cracker
 
Cracker pretty much summed it up. Did ya follow all that Snareman? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Hides in the freezer for a year (one season) are most likely to be good yet, but only if they are protected from getting freezer burnt with good bagging like Cracker mentioned.
Another thing I should point out along with Crackers folding tips is; It's always a good idea to place the hole hide in the freezer unfolded for a short amount fo time to cool the entire hide before folding it. I have seen hides actually build heat from the center out because they were rolled or folded tight in room temps.
Decaying, sweating flesh is a perfect bacteria breeding zone and it will build heat as it does it. I call em hot spots.
 
Jim,

Don't forget to use a non-frost free freezer if possible. I've got two freezers in my shop and the frost free one doesn't hold capes or hides because of the dehydration problems that lead to burning.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top